Maths Week Scotland
Maths Week Scotland is a Scottish government initiative, aimed at showing the beauty and creativity of Mathematics all around the country. Every year we take part in this nationwide initiative through a variety of exciting events and activities aimed at people from any age or background.
In 2023 Maths Week Scotland will be celebrated between the 25th September and the 1st October. We will contribute to the initiative through a wide range of events, both online and in person, to suit people from any age, background or geographical location. Below you can find our program, which includes exhibits, Maths Clubs for children and family, and development workshops for teachers and educators.
Live events for teachers and educators
Wednesday 20th September 4:30pm-6:00pm- Maths Circles and open-ended problems (online workshop for teachers and educators)
During this online workshop, aimed at both primary and secondary teachers and all educators with an interest in Mathematics, we will give a brief introduction to our Maths Circles and then explore some of the resources we use. We will also dicuss how such resources can be used in the classroom and can spark curiosity and help children develop their mathematical thinking.
The event is free to attend but booking is required. For further information and to book a space please visit the link below:
Wednesday 27th September- 5:15pm-7:45pm: Celebrate Mathematics with the University of Edinburgh (workshop for all teachers and educators)- James Clerk Maxwell Building
This evening workshop will celebrate the creative and fun side of Mathematics. Participants will get hands-on and try a variety of stimulating mathematical activities; they will be able to have a look at the resources the University of Edinburgh can offer to schools and communities; they will also get a chance to hear about research carried out at the School of Mathematics. The event is free but booking is required. This event is part of our Maths Week Scotland program. For further information and to book a space, please visit click on the link below:
Live events for adults and for families
Saturday 23rd September- 10:00am- 4:00pm: Maths in Motion- from Experiments to Proofs- James Clerk Maxwell Building
How can you construct a self-supporting bridge? Does the height of the British population follow a specific pattern? Can you cross all bridges in a given city without backtracking? Come and join us at the School of Mathematics, meet University staff and students and find out how mathematicians would answer such questions. This event is part of both the University Doors Open Day and Maths Week Scotland. Attendance is free and no booking is required. You can just drop in and stay as little or as long as you wish.
Saturday 30th September- 1:00pm-4:00pm- Edinburgh Maths Circle- James Clerk Maxwell Building
This is a free drop-in session where children aged 5-16 and their family can have a go at puzzles and stimulating mathematical activities. Participants get a chance to join University staff and students for an afternoon of Maths… and fun. If you like Maths you will find food for your thoughts at our Maths Circles. If you do not like Maths, then we hope our fun activities will change your mind. Our Maths Circles are entirely free, no booking is required and you will be able to stay as long or as little as you like. Further information can be found at:
https://www.maths.ed.ac.uk/school-of-mathematics/outreach/maths-circle
Saturday 7th October 11:00pm: Discover Edinburgh's Mathematical History- Walking Tour
Join our students on a walk along the Royal Mile. Hear and see the mathematical delights hidden in Edinburgh's city centre. Along the way uncover some of the secret history of Edinburgh, discover some highlights of mathematics developed over the past two thousand years and try your hand at some intriguing puzzles and games. The tour is FREE to attend but booking is required. For further details and to book a space visit the link below:
Online resources for teachers, educators or family
In addition to our live events, we can offer a range of online resources for teachers to download and use. Please see below for further details.
This is a kit of resources for P5-S3 students, aimed at developing mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as showing the creative and fun side of mathematics. The resources focus on strategy games and some applications of Maths to transport networks. They include some videos, a range of puzzles catering different abilities, and a document with tips and advice for teachers who want to use them in the classroom. The resources can be found here.
Five Maths graduates working in different sectors explain how they use maths in their jobs, and mention some of the struggles they were facing while studying maths. Then they will present a puzzle which is somehow related to their job. Check this page for further details, and to watch the videos.
Climate Change is one of the biggest issues that we are currently facing, but did you know that there is actually a lot of maths behind it? Check out our resources to see some of the number crunching that Climate Scientists do in their fight to save our planet!
The resources include a Powerpoint presentation, together with some notes for teachers and a lesson plan. To receive the material please email francesca.iezzi@ed.ac.uk.